Dodgers commit $36 million in salary to Ryu

The Dodgers posted a winning bid of $25.7 million for the rights to negotiate with Ryu last month, and frankly, even though there were reports to the contrary, there was never any doubt that the Dodgers would get this deal done.

Ryu is a seven-time All-Star in the Korean league.Reportedly, the deal is worth $36 million over six years and includes performance bonuses worth $1 million per year that could potentially raise the value of the contract to $42 million.

Ryu can opt out of the contract after the fifth year providing an innings threshold is met.

The Dodgers have added more than $500 million in player salaries since they were purchased by Guggenheim Baseball in the spring, excluding today’s agreement with Ryu.

GM Ned Colletti has made it clear that adding pitching would be a priority for the team, and with the addition of Greinke , Ryu, and re-signing closerBrandon League, it would appear Coletti has been successful.

More trades may be on the horizon for the Dodgers with Capuano or Harang the most likely candidates to be dealt.

It is also possible that Ryu could begin his Dodger career in the bullpen with the plan to eventually work himself into the rotation.

Ryu has not pitched 200 innings sensed 2007. Ryu is 98-52 with a 2.80 ERA lifetime in Korea.

Ryu helped Korea win the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and helped them to a second place finish in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Don is a lifelong baseball fan and loves to look inside the game for stories not everyone sees. He served as a Tampa Bay Rays correspondent for ESPN Fantasy Baseball. His style has been described as direct , and he wont likely change.